Vector quantity

Unlike a scalar quantity, a vector quantity is a measurement which has both a magnitude and a direction.

For example, we’d consider velocity to be a vector, because it has a speed (magnitude) and a direction (e.g. north, south, east, west, up, down etc).

If a value can have a positive or negative value, then it’s likely to be a vector quantity - because the sign can indicate the direction.

Examples of vector quantities

• Displacement
• Velocity
• Acceleration
• Force
• Momentum
• Field strength
• Current (can be positive or negative)